User:Sbh/Clyomon1

by Author unknown

Prologue

As lately lifting up the leaves of worthy writers’ works,

Wherein the noble acts and deeds of many hidden lurks,

Our author he hath found the glass of glory shining bright,

Wherein their lives are to be seen which honor did delight,

To be a lantern unto those which daily do desire

Apollo’s garland by desert in time for to aspire;

Wherein the froward chances oft of fortune you shall see,

Wherein the cheerful countenance of good successes be,

Wherein true lovers findeth joy with hugy heaps of care,

Wherein as well as famous facts, ignomious placed are,

Wherein the just reward of both is manifestly shown,

That virtue from the root of vice might openly be known.

And doubting naught right courteous all, in your accustomed wont

And gentle ears, our author he is prest to bide the brunt

Of babblers’ tongues, to whom be thinks as frustrate all his toil,

As pearls taste to filthy swine which in the mire doth moil.

Well, what he hath done for your delight, he gave not me in charge:

The actors come, who shall express the same to you at large.

[Exit.

Scene i

Enter Clamydes.

Clamydes

As to the weary wandering wights whom waltering waves environ,

No greater joy of joys may be, then when from out the ocean

They may behold the altitude of billows to abate,

For to observe the longitude of seas in former rate,

And having then the latitude of sea-room for to pass,

Their joy is greater through the grief than erst before it was;

So likewise I, Clamydes, Prince of Suavia, noble soil,

Bringing my bark to Denmark here, to bide the bitter broil

And beating blows of billows high, while raging storms did last,

My griefs was greater then might be, but, tempests overpassed,

Such gentle calms ensued hath as makes my joys more,

Through terror of the former fear, than erst it was before.

So that I sit in safety, as sea-man under shrouds

When he perceives the storms be past, through vanishing of clouds;

For why

The doubtful care that drave me off, in danger to prevail,

Is dashed through bearing lesser brain and keeping under sail,

So that I have through travail long at last possessed the place

Whereas my bark in harbor safe doth pleasures great embrace,

And hath such license limited, as heart can seem to ask,

To go and come, of custom free or any other task:

I mean by Juliana she, that blaze of beauty’s breeding,

And for her noble gifts of grace, all other dames exceeding;

She hath from bondage set me free, and freed, yet still bound

To her above all other dames that live upon the ground;

For had not she been merciful, my ship had rushed on rocks,

And so decayed amids the storms through force of clubbish knocks;

But when she saw the danger great, where subject I did stand

In bringing of my silly bark full-fraught from out my land,

She like a meek and modest dame—what should I else say more?—

Did me permit with full consent to land upon her shore,

Upon true promise that I would, here faithful still remain,

And that perform which she had vowed for those that should obtain

Her princely person to possess, which thing to know I stay,

And then adventurously for her, to pass upon my way.

Lo where she comes! Ah peerless dame, my Juliana dear!

Enter Juliana with a white shield.

Juliana

My Clamydes! of troth, sir prince, to make you stay thus here

I proffer too much injury, that’s doubtless on my part;

But let it no occasion give to breed within your heart

Mistrust that I should forge or feign with you my love in aught.

Clamydes

No, lady, touching you in me doth lodge no such a thought,

But thanks for your great courtesy, that would so friendly here

In mids of misery receive a foreign stranger mere.

But lady, say what is your will, that it I may perstand.

Juliana

Sir prince,

Upon a vow who spouseth me must needsly take in hand

The flying serpent for to slay, which in the forest is,

That of Strange Marvels beareth name; which serpent doth not miss,

By daily use from every coast that is adjacent there,

To fetch a virgin maid, or wife, or else some lady fair,

To feed his hungry paunch withal, if case he can them take;

His nature, lo, it only is of women spoil to make:

Which thing, no doubt, did daunt me much, and made me vow indeed,

Who should espouse me for his wife should bring to me his head;

Whereto my father willingly did give his like consent:

Lo, Sir Clamydes, now you know what is my whole intent;

And if you will, as I have said, for me this travail take,

That I am yours with heart and mind, your full account do make.

Clamydes

Ah lady,

If case these travails should surmount the travails whereby came

Unto the worthies of the world such noble bruit and fame,

Yea, though the dangers should surpass stout Hercules his toil,

Who, fearing naught the dogged fiend, stern Cerberus did foil;

Take here my hand, if life and limb the living gods do lend,

To purchase thee the dearest drop of blood my heart shall spend:

And therefore, lady, link with me thy loyal heart for aye,

For I am thine till fates untwine of vital life the stay,

Protesting here, if gods assist, the serpent for to kill.

Juliana

Then shalt thou of all women win the heart and great good-will,

And me possess for spoused wife, who in election am

To have the crown of Denmark here as heir unto the same;

For why no children hath my sire besides me but one other,

And he, indeed, is heir before for that he is my brother,

And Clyomon so hight his name; but where he doth remain,

Unto my parents is unknown, for once he did obtain

Their good-wills for to go abroad, a while to spend his days

In purchasing through active deeds both honor, laud, and praise,

Whereby he might deserve to have the order of a knight:

But, this omitting, unto thee, Clamydes, here I plight

My faith and troth, if what is said by me thou dost perform.

Clamydes

If not,

Be sure, O lady, with my life I never will return.

Juliana

Then as thou seem’st in thine attire a virgin’s knight to be,

Take thou this shield likewise of white, and bear thy name by me—

The White Knight of the Silver Shield—to elevate thy praise.

[Gives shield.

Clamydes

O lady, as your pleasure is, I shall at all assays

Endeavor my good-will to win, if Mars do send me might,

Such honor as your grace with joy shall welcome home your knight.

Juliana

Then farewell, my dear Clamydes: the gods direct thy way,

And grant that with the serpent’s head behold thy face I may!

Clamydes

You shall not need to doubt thereof, O faithful dame so true!

And humbly kissing here thy hand, I bid thy grace adieu.

[Exit Juliana.

Ah happy time and blissful day, wherein by fate I find

Such friendly favors as is food to feed both heart and mind!

To Suavia soil I swiftly will prepare my footsteps right,

There of my father to receive the order of a knight,

And afterwards address myself, in hope of honor’s crown,

Both tiger fell and monster fierce by dint for to drive down.

The flying serpent soon shall feel how boldly I dare vaunt me;

And if that Hydra’s head she had, yet dread should never daunt me;

If murdering Minotaur a man might count this ugly beast,

Yet for to win a lady such I do account it least

Of travails toil to take in hand; and therefore, farewell care,

For hope of honor sends me forth ‘mongst warlike wights to share.

[Exit.